On Anniversary of Mother Emanuel Shooting, 1,300 Faith Leaders Call On Congress To Unanimously Condemn White Christian Nationalism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 17, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org | 540-280-3393
On Anniversary of Mother Emanuel Shooting,
1,300 Faith Leaders Call On Congress To Unanimously Condemn White Christian Nationalism
Faith leaders also commit to confronting white Christian nationalism in their own communities
Washington, D.C. –Today marks the 7th anniversary of the Mother Emanuel shooting in which nine Black men and women were murdered by a white supremacist inside Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Since then, attacks inspired by white Christian nationalist ideology have continued in communities nationwide, including those recently in Buffalo, NY, where a white supremacist murdered 10 Black men and women in a grocery store.
Now, over 1,300 faith leaders from across the country have signed a petition calling on Congress to unanimously condemn white Christian Nationalism, while also making a commitment to confront white Christian nationalism in their own communities in order to prevent identity- and political-based violence.
Jeanné Lewis, Interim CEO, Faith in Public Life
“As we continue to grieve the lives lost seven years ago in Charleston and for all of the lives lost to violence inspired by white Christian nationalism, people of faith are committing to create a nation where identity- and political-based violence doesn’t occur. Everyone is a child of God who deserves to worship, shop and live without the threat of violence. For this to become our reality, people across race, faith and class must act together. Our coalition of over 1,300 faith leaders from 49 states across the country commit to confronting white Christian nationalism in our communities, and we demand Congress join us and use its power to unanimously condemn white Christian nationalism, so we can ensure all of God’s children are loved, respected and safe.”
The petition reads in part:
“Over and over again, we have all witnessed white nationalists who are emboldened and empowered by white nationalist rhetoric target violent attacks on people because of their identity as Black, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Arab, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, immigrants and LGBTQ people. In recent years, white nationalists have also targeted that violence towards public health leaders, poll workers, election officials, school board members, teachers, women judges and political leaders. The spread of this violence – from Mother Emanuel to Charlottesville to Tree of Life Synagogue to El Paso to the US Capitol on January 6th to Buffalo and communities nationwide – is rooted in hate speech and dehumanizing rhetoric casually spread by political pundits, right-wing religious figures, social media influencers and Members of Congress.”
To read the full petition and list of signers, please click here.
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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.